Recording measuring instrument



G. SWIFT RECORDING MEASURING INSTRUMENT June 13, 19 44.

Filed Ju y 29, 1941 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 fiolerid'wzfl June 13, 1944; sw

' v RECORDING MEASURING INSTRUMENT Filed-July 29, 1941v f5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 13, 1944. G. SWIFT 2,351,081

RECORDING MEASURING INSTRUMENT Filed July 29, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Illlllll ll llll Me ly- I? June13, 1944. swi 2,351,081

RECORDING MEASURING INSTRUMENT Filed July 29, 1941 Sheets-Sheet 4 4.98 I v I l June 13, 1944. 'sw -r 2,351,081

RECORDING MEASURING INSTRUMENT Filed July 29, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1.24 awe/M104, A93

Patented June 13, 1944 UNITED STATES m'rlszu'r OFFICE aacoanmo MEASURING ms'raurmn'r out": Swift, Tulsa, om. Application July 29, 1941, Serial No. 404,560

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improvement in recorders, and more particularly to a photoelectric recorder that will accurate'ly record the readings of one ormore standard meters, in correlation with any desired second variable and without alteration of the meter.

Electrical and other meters have been developed to the point where they are fairly well standardizeq and where they can be produced inquantitles and sold at fairly low prices. However, it is often desirable to have not only visual indications of the measurements made by meters but to have records of these measurements in correlation with time, distance, feed of materials or some other factor. Consequently, various types of recording meters have been devised for the purpose of automatically producing such records.

Such devices are usually either less sensitive, less accurate, or less rapid in response than instruments which indicate but do not make a record.

- Some prior art recording devices produce a record having a curvilinear scale, whereas another form of scale may be more desirable.

One type of ,device for producing such records makes use of a pen, attached to the pointer 01' the measuring instrument, in continuous contact with the chart. Considerable inertia and friction are thus introduced, reducing the sensitivity, accuracy, and speed of response of the measuring instrument, and requiring the use of a measuring instrument having a high torque.

Another form of recorder in which the effects of friction encountered in the type described above are greatly lessened, makes use or a pen, attached to the pointer of the measuring instrument, but not in continuous contact with the chart. The writing is accomplished by clamping the pointer in whatever position it may assume and then forcing the pen against the chart to produce a mark. This form 01' recorder is necessarily slower in response than an equivalent indicating instrument since the inertia of the moving system is increased by the pen and considera'ble time is consumed in clamping and depressing the pointer. The accuracy is also impaired since the clamping mechanism may cause a small deflection of the pointer from its proper position.

Other forms of recorders make use of various types of amplifiers to increase the torque available to move the recording mechanism, but these too are subject to inaccuracies greater than those encountered with non-recording measuring instruments. The devices oi this type which are capable of the greatest speed are adaptable only for measuring electrical quantities.

Some 0! these recorders produce records having inaccuracies resulting from the failure oi the printed coordinates of the chart paper to be properly aligned with respect to the pen or other marking mechanism. This misalignment may take the form of a shift of the measuring scale or the time scale, due to inaccurate location of the printed coordinates with respect to the driving holes, or it may be a change in the measuring scale due to stretch or shrinkage of the chart p p To avoid the above mentioned difliculties, and more particularly to provide a recorder that will record quickly and accurately the readings of one or more standard meters, is the purpose of the present invention.

To this end means have been provided for scanning the faces of one or a plurality of standard meters photoelectrically, either simultaneously or sequentially. Means have also been provided for recording the results of these scannings, and with them,.if desired, the records of periodic scannings of the scales or the meter or meters. This makes a substantially continuous record oi. the meter readings and also a record of the scale or scales of the meter or meters in a place where they may be directly compared with the records of the meter readings. Furthermore, by controlling the interval between the making of the records of the meter scales, the records of the meter scales may be used for the second purpose oi recording the progress or another variable such as time, distance, feed of materials or anything else of this nature that it is desired to record in correlation with the meter readings.

By using the device of this invention, an accurate record may easily be made of the variation of any quantity measurable by a standard meter in correlation with the lapse of time or with the progress of any other variable. A record of the measurements of several variables may be made at once by utilizing several meters and the variables that the device is capable of measuring may be easily and quickly changed by simply substituting one standard meter for an other.

Where several meters are to be scanned simultaneously and the readings of all recorded on the same area of a single chart, it will be necessary for the meters to have identical scales in order to avoid confusion between the records of the scales. However, several meters having different scales may be scanned sequentially and a record made on a single recorder tape using a different longitudinal section of the tape for each record. In that manner the scale of each meter may be printed upon its proper section of tape, thus avoiding any possible confusion.

The principles of this invention may be applied in a number of ways as illustrated in appended drawings and the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described in the following detailed description are but illustrative of the principles of this invention and of its preferred embodiment and should not' be construed as delineating the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic illustration of a relatively simple application of the principles of this invention to the recording of the readings of a single meter;

Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically a modification of the device of Figure 1 wherein the recorder and the scanning device are separated and driven in synchronism by an electrical transmission system;

Figure 3 illustrates diagrammatically an improvement on the device of Figure 1, according to which the scale of the meter is scanned and printed at regular intervals;

Figure 4 illustrates a further modification of Figure l by which modification the readings of two meters are simultaneously observed and rer d:

, Figure 5 is a plan view partly in section of a diiferent embodiment of the principles of this invention according to which a plurality of meters are simultaneously scanned by the use of rotating mirrors;

Figure 6 is a side view partly in section of the same device;

Figure 'l is an elevational view partly in section of the scanner of the same device;

Figure 8 illustrates, also in a semi-diagrammatic form another embodiment of the principles of this invention'in which a plurality of meters are scanned and their readings recorded:

Figures 9, l and 11. are sectional views of the device of Figure 8 showing the construction of certain parts thereof;

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic illustrationof a modification of the device of Figure 8 in which a toggle is used instead of a gear box;

Figure 13 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit of Figure 8 which causes the scale of the meter to be scanned at the proper interval; and

Figure 14 is a circuit diagram of the scanning and recording mechanism of Figure 8.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, it is to be observed that the device therein illustrated comprises a measuring instrument l0, scanning mechanism generally designated by the reference character Ii, and recording mechanism l2. The

. measuring instrument i0 is of a conventional type suited for indicating changes in a varying factor such as pressure, temperature, voltage, current. power consumption, or any other significant variable. The instrument comprises an indicat--.

ing pointer it having a locus of movement corresponding to a graduated scale l4 provided on the face of the instrument.

The scanning device ll comprises a shaft l carrying a light source It and a len ll arranged in a manner such that a concentrated beam of light i8. is directed upon the race of the measuring instrument In and reflected therefrom to a phototube i9 substantially as shown. The face of the instrument is of a material capable of refleeting most of the light falling thereon whereas the indicating pointer i3 is formed of opaque substance incapable of reflecting appreciable light from the source it to the photocell it. Since the usual meter has a light colored card and a black pointer it is usable for this P p se without change. The shaft i5 is oscillated by means of a crank arm 20 mounted thereon, connected by a link 2| to an eccentric 22 rotated by a motor 23. The motor 23 preferably operates at a constant speed thus causing the beam of light I! to traverse the locus of motion of the indicating pointer l2 continuously and in identical time intervals.

The recording mechanism l2 comprises a sliding carriage 24 moved by a rack 25 which is connected thereto and engages a pinion gear 20 driven by a gear 21 mounted upon the'shaft It. By reason or the oscillatory motion of the shaft IS, the carriage is caused to reciprocate transversely with respect to a record sheet 28 carried on rollers 29 and 30. The record sheet is transferred from roller 29 to roller 30 as the latter is rotated by a shaft 32 driven by the motor 23. The carriage 24 is provided with a recording member 33 including a stylus or pen 34 adapted to mark the record sheet 28 upon operation. An electromagnet 35 operates the stylus. This electromagnet is connected to a power source such as a battery 36, through a relay switch 31. The switch 31 is controlled by the photocell l9 and a power source 88. As long as current passes from the power source 38 through the photocell the relay is held open but when the light beam i8 is interrupted by the indicator arm IS the relay is permitted to close and this operates the marking stylus.

In operation the scanning mechanism causes the locus of movement of the indicator arm II to be traversed by the light beam IS. A current continuously flows through the photo tube l9, maintaining the relay 31 in open circuit position except momentarily when the light beam is inter cepted by the indicator arm. Simultaneously the carriage 24 is reciprocated transversely across the record sheet 28 as above described. When the light beam is interrupted by the indicator arm, the relay 3'! momentarily assumes closed circuit position and the electromagnet is energized, causing the recording member 33 to move against the sheet 28 thereby making a visual impression thereon.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, itjs to be observed that the device therein illustrated comprises a measuring instrument 40 provided with a pointer 4i having a locus of motion corresp nding to the graduated scale 42 appearing on the instrument face plate 43. A light source 64 mounted upon an arm extending from a shaft 45, is oscillated by means including a lever arm 46 linked by a member 41 to a crank wheel is rotated by a motor 49. A beam of light 50 emanating from the light source 44 impinges upon the instrument face plate 43 and is reflected thereby to a. photocell 5i through which current normally flows from a battery 52 to maintain a relay 53 in open circuit position. During oscillation of the light source 44, the beam of light is interrupted by the pointer 6| thereby causing interruption of the current flowing through the photocell 5| with resultant shifting of the relay 53 to closed circuit position. when this occurs, current passes from a battery 54 to energize an electromagnet 55 which acts upon a recorder bar ll, thus causing a stylus I! to be pressed against a moving record sheet ll.

The recorder bar ll is continuously reciprocated transversely with respect to the record sheet by a rack ll driven by gear wheel ll rotated by the motor ll of an electrical transmission system such as the fSelsyn" system. The motor ll, is operated by a generator l2 which in turn is driven by a motor ll on shaft ll. Thus, the reciprocating motion of the recorder bar ll corresponds in rate to the rate of oscillation of the shaft l5.

The record sheet ll is transferred from a roll ll to a roll ll by a source of power ll. This embodiment of the present invention diflers from the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 in that the recording mechanism can be located at any desired distance from the measuring instrument.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings comprises a measuring instrument II having an indicator pointer II movable across a graduated scale I2 appearing on the instrument face plate II. .A pair of light sources Ila and Ilb mounted upon an arm I! carried by a shaft ll transmit beams of light which are concentrated by lenses IIa and 11b respectively, whereby the light beams Ila and Ilb respectively, impinge upon the light reflective surface of the instrument face plate II from which both beams are reflected to a phototube Il. It is to be noticed that the light beam Ila emanating from the light source Ila impinges upon that portion of the instrument face plate 13 whereon the graduated scale 12 appears whereas light beam Ila emanating from the light source Ilb impinges upon a different portion of the instrument face plate and is wholly reflected to the photocell except when the beam is intercepted by the indicator pointer I l. Current from a battery ll flows through the photocell ll when the same is illuminated from either of the light sources and maintains a relay ll in open circuit position.

When both light beams are interrupted, current ceases to flow through the photocell and the relay ll thereupon assumes closed circuit position,

thereby connecting a battery I! with an electromagnet ll as will be apparent upon examination of the drawings. when the electromagnet ll is energized as above described, a recorder arm ll is moved causing a stylus ll to make a mark upon a record sheet ll.

The recorder arm ll is mounted in a carriage assembly 81 that is reciprocated transversely with regard to the record sheet ll by a rack bar ll, driven by a pinion gear ll meshing with gear 90 mounted upon the shaft ii. The shaft ll is oscillated by means including a crank arm ll coupled to a crank wheel 92 by a bar ll. The wheel 92 is rotated continuously by a motor ll which also operates to cause transference of the record sheet ll from. a roll 95 to a roll 86.

The light sources Ila and Ilb do not operate simultaneousLv but are connected with a battery 91 by a selector switch ll intermittently operated by a cam ll mounted upon the drive shaft of the motor ll. In operation the instrument face plate is scanned in a manner similar to that described in the embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. However, in this instance, the graduated scale I2 of. the instrument is periodically scanned thus causing the scale to be reproduced upon the record sheet ll in addition to the record of the pointer position relative to the scale. This embodiment of the invention permits use of unprinted record paper and assures proper correspondence between the coordinates of the record sheet which are equivalent to the scale graduations and the record curve. Furthermore, since the scale is scanned at intervals, the longitudinal distances between scale indications on the record sheet. are indications of those intervals, so that the meter readings are plotted on the recorder paper against the background of meter scale in one direction and the intervals of seaming the meter scale in the other direction.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, it is to be observed that two measuring instruments ill and I II are provided, each of which includes a pointer arm numbered I I2 and Ill respectively, having a locus of motion defined by graduated scales I ll and Ill respectively. A pair of light sources Ill and I", mounted upon arms Ill and Ill respectively, emit beams of light which when focused by lenses Ill and ii 2 respectively, impinge upon the instrument face plates Ill and Ill respectively, from which they are reflected to a photocell Ill. The arms Ill and Ill are mounted upon shafts Ill and H1 respectively, which are oscillated by means including crank arms Ill and Ill respectively, engaging with a link l2. reciprocated by a crank wheel i2! mounted upon the drive shaft of a motor I22. Operation of the motor causes the light beams to oscillate across the locus of motion of pointers I I2 and Ill, whereby light is continuously reflected from the instrument face plates to the photocell II I. A current flows through the photocell from a battery ill, except when the illumination of the photocell is diminished by interception of the light beams by one of the pointers I02 or Ill. Flow of current through the photocell maintains a relay i2l in open circuit position, but when this current flow is diminished as above mentioned, the relay assumes a closed circuit position, thereby connecting an electroma'gnet I25 with a battery ill causing a recording arm I21 to make an impression upon a record sheet l2l. As in the previously described embodiments of this invention the recorder arm is mounted in a carriage which is reciprocated by a rack I2! driven by a pinion gear III that in turn meshes with a gear ill mounted upon the shaft H'I rotated by the motor I22. The record sheet I28 is continuously transferred from a roll "2 to a roll Ill during operation of the device. This embodiment of tin present invention permits simultaneous recording of changes in two measured variables with respect to time or another selected factor which can be related to the rate of operation in the motor I22.

' The dual indication appears upon the record sheet as a pair of distinct curves illustrated.

An important feature of devices according to this invention is that the response periods thereof can be readily altered by attiustment of the scanning rate which can be easily accomplished by control of the motor speed.

In Figures 5, 6 and 7 there is shown a diiferent embodiment of the principles of this invention wherein four standard meters are sequentially scanned by rotating mirrors. According to these figures four standard meters llll, ill, 2 and ill are mounted in panel Ill so that they face a scanning device ill. This scanning device Ill comprises a housing ill, in which are rotatably mounted four shafts 1, ill, Ill and I 50, each shaft being in alignment with the pivot point of the needle of a diil'erent meter. On the end of each shaft is a mirror mounted so as to be not quite normal to the shaft. These mirrors have essentially a been numbered IBI, I52. I53 and IE4, respectively. The shafts I41, I48, I49 and I50 are all geared together by gear train I" driven by a motor I53 so that all the shafts rotate together. Between the scanner housing I43 and the meter panel are a series of small mirrors I51, I58, I59 and I" arranged so as to reflect light from the four mirrors IiI, I52, I33 and IE4 onto a photocell IGI, contained within a housing I62, which housing is provided with focusing lenses I63, I64, I35 and I. By this arrangement the photocell is constantly focused upon each of the rotating mirrors and, if the mirrors are in the proper position from them, onto their respective meter faces.

As each mirror revolves there is one portion of its revolution where it directs the focus of the photocell onto the face of its corresponding meter in such a manner as to cause the photocell to scan a line across the face of that meter. During the remainder of its revolution, the scanner housing I48 prevents its being operative to cause further scanning. since only restricted openings I61, I63, I69 and Ill! are provided in the housing.

By properly arranging the parts, each mirror may be caused to scan, for example, through a quarter of a revolution and the scanning of the next meter will then be commenced by the next mirror and the first mentioned mirror will become inoperative. Thus, the faces of the meters will be sequentially scanned and a record of the readings of the various meters may be plotted one after another across the face of the recording strip of a recorder of the type shown in Figure 2, operated by a motor which rotates in synchronism with the motor I56. Thus, the chart will be divided longitudinally into fourths and each fourth will contain the record of one of the meters. Light on the face of the meters is of course, provided from any suitable source such as the lights Him.

In order to record the scales of the meters periodically the scanner housing I48 may be supported upon wheels "I on a track I12 so that it can move toward and away from the meter panel, thus moving the line of scanning onto and on of the meter scale. For the purpose of causing this motion, the scanner housing may be held in one position by a spring I13 and solenoids I14 may be provided for the purpose of moving it to the other position. Thus, as shown in the figures, when the scanner housing I46 is moved forward, the line of scanning will fall below the meter scale and when the scanner housing is allowed to move back from the meter panel, the line of scanning will be raised to include the meter scale.

No operating circuit is shown-for the solenoids I14 but it will be apparent that these solenoids may be actuated in'accordance with the passage of time; measurements of distance traversed, measurements of quantity of flow, or measurements of any other variable of this nature.

It is obviously possible, with the device of the type shown in Figures 5, 6 and '1, to accomplish simultaneous scanning of the four meters by mounting all four of the mirrors I5I, I52, I53 and I54 in the same relation to the respective shafts and either rotating or oscillating the mirrors in unison. The circuit of the photoelectric cell may then be such that interruption of the light path by the needle of any one of the meters will cause a signal to be sent to the recorder and the record will thus be made as in Figure 4, of the readings of all of the meters on the same width of recorder strip. If this is done, however, the meters should have exactly duplicate scales in order to avoid confusion between the scales of the meters when an attempt is made to read the values of the curves plotted on the recorder.

In Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, i3 and 14 is illustrated still a diiferent embodiment of the principles of the present invention. According to this embodiment two or more meters I15 and I1 are scanned by scanning devices I11 and Ill which move in a cam track I 19 formed in a member I33. Each of the scanning devices includes the cam follower I8I- which slides in the cam track ".9 and to which is pivoted a housing I82 which contains a photocell I93 and a lens I94 for focusing the photocell on the scale of the meter which it is to scan. The member I8I is shaped as shown in Figure 11 so as to prevent the scanning device from rotating about a vertical axis. A small magnet III is carried by the cam follower Ill and positioned so as to cooperate with a lug I86 on the housing I32 so as to tilt this housing through a small angle when the magnet is energized. The housin returns to its normal position either by gravity or by the action of the spring (not shown) when the magnet is de-energized. As the scanning device travels the cam track, it normally scans the face of the meter under it at a point just below the scale of the meter. when, however, the magnet I3! is energized, the housing I82 is tilted andthe device scans the meter across the scale. v

The scanning devices I11 and. I18 are moved back and forth in the cam track by a rack I31 which has a transverse slot I83 at each scanning device. The scanning device is attached at this slot by means of a bolt I89 screwed into the cam follower I8I but free to slide transversely in the slot I88.

As shown in Figure 8, a separate scanning device is provided for each meter and in such a case the two scanning devices are connected in a circuit, to be described later, in such a manner that either scanning device will operate the marker for the recorder.

The rack I81 is oscillated by a gear box I33 which in turn is operated by a rack I9I from the stylus or marker I32 of a recorder I93. The

stylus or marker is of the magnetic type and is arranged to operate when the electrical circuit to it is broken by actuation of the scanning devices as will hereafter be described. The marker I92 is oscillated back and forth across the tape I94 of the recorder by a helical cam I95 of the type usually found in the winding devices for fishing reels. This cam is driven through a gear box I96 by a motor or other source of power I31 which also drives the roll I98 which supports one end of the recorder tape I34.

Thus, as the scanning devices move back and forth across the meter, the marker I92 moves back and forthacross the recording tape and as the scanning devices cross the needles of the meters, the marking device makes a mark on the paper. At the same time, the recording tape is driven through the roll I 98. Periodically, the magnets I35 are actuated to tilt the scanner housing and the scales of the meters are recorded by the marker member I92 on the recorder tape.

The circuit for the operation of the marker member I92 is shown in Figure 14. As canbeseen from this figure, the two 'photocells I83, one for each of the scanning devices I 11 and I13, are connected in series to a battery I93 and a relay 200. The marker device comprises a pen or stylus 20I held away from the paper by a magnet 202 which is connected in series with the battery I 99 and the contacts of the relay 200. Thus, upon reduction of current in the relay circuit by either photocell, a mark is made on the recorder tape.

In order to avoid confusion between the meter scales printed on the recorder tape, the scales of the two meters should be identical. In this case, it is only necessary to scan the scale of one of the meters to obtain the proper scale on the recorder tape. However, both meter scales may be scanned, if desired, and in some instances this is desirable because it is a check to prove that the two scales are identical. A circuit for causing the scanning of one of these recorder scales is shown in Figure 13 which illustrates the fact that the tilting magnets I85 are connected in series with a battery 203 and a controlling switch 204. The controlling switch may be operated by a clock mechanism, by a depth indicating mechanism, or by any other mechanism that will cause the switch to be closed at the desired intervals of time, depth, or other factors.

As illustrated and as so far described, the two or more meters I15 and I16, will be simultaneously scanned and printed together upon the same width of recorder tape. If desired, however, by a very simple change of the instrument, the several meters may be scanned sequentially and a record of each of these scannings made on a separate longitudinally extending section of recorder strip. For example, using two meters as is shown in Figure 8, the second scanning device I18 may be omitted and the photocell of the first scanning device connected directly in series with the battery I99 and the relay 200.

The gears in gear box I90 may then be changed so that the scanning device I11 travels complete- 1y across the face of the two meters while the marking device travels across the width of the recording strip. A record of the scanning of the meter I15 will then be placed on one longitudinal half of the recording strip-and a record of the scanning of the meter I16 will be placed on the other longitudinal half of the recording strip. Then, when the scales or the two meters are recorded, they will each be recorded on the appropriate half of the record strip and therefore the scales may be entirely different if desired.

To avoid making a mark on the recorder strip when the scanning device to another, a strip of reflecting paper or tape may be placed across the frames of the meters and the intervening space at the place the scanning beam crosses.

As can readily be seen, the device may b readily adapted by changing the gearing in the gear box I to the scanning of one, two, three or more meters, either sequentially or simultaneously. Furthermore; by the changing of the gearing in the gear box I80 the rate of scanning as compared to the rate of movement of the recorder tape may also be changed. The result is a very flexible recorder adapted for use with standard meters and easily adjustable to meet many situations. For example, by the changing of the gearing in the gear box I80, rack, I01, the cam track I80 and the scanning devices I11 and I18, the device may be readily adapted to the making of either simultaneous or sequential recordings, of practically any number of standard meters. Thus, a supply of gears and the interchangeable parts may be provided for the recorder and it can thus be given a very wide scope of application.

Still further, cams and levers may be provided in the gear box I90 so as to convert the type of motion of the rack I9I into an entirely different type of motion in the second rack I81. Thus, the rack I 9| may have rectilinear motion and the rack I81, harmonic or logarithmic motion with respect thereto. This will serve to convert the meter scales into any desired form of scales for recording.-

A slightlyv different embodiment of the principles of this invention are shown in the device illustrated in Figure 12. In this device, the scanning device 205 is the sam as scanning devices I11 and I 18, and scans the standard meter 200. All of the recorder parts except the connection between the scamiing device and the marking device are the same as have been illustrated in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11. They have therefore been marked with the same numbers.

Instead of having a gear and rack connection between the marking device I92 and the scanning device 205, the device of Figure 12 has a lever connection between the marking and scanning devices. Thus, a lever 201 is pivoted at 208,

' connected at one end to the marking device I92 passes from one meter and at the other end to a second lever 209, pivoted at 2I0. and carrying the scanning device 205 at its opposite end.

Slot and pin connections are provided at the point where the lever 201 is pivoted and at the point where the levers 201 and 209 are joined together, to prevent the lever arms from binding as they are moved. The movement of the marking member I02 then moves the scanning device 205 to cause it to scan the scale of the meter 200 as in Figure 8. By adjusting the relative lengths of the lever arms, the lengths of the scanning stroke relative to the movement of the marking member may be adjusted so that all or only a part of the meter range is scanned.

Iclaim:

Apparatu for recording the pointer readings and the scale markings of a meter upon a single record surface that comprises light sensitive means to scan by reflected light two lines across the face of the meter, one of said lines crossing the pointer of the meter and the other line traversing the scale markings of the meter, 2. marking device, means to repeatedly move the scanning means, means to move said marking device in synchronism therewith across a recording surface, means to advance the marking device and recording surface relative to each other so that the markings will occur progressively along the recording surface. and means responsive to the reception of reflected light by said light sensitive means to actuate the marking device each time the reflected light is interrupted by the pointer or a scale marking of the meter.

GILBERT SWIFT. 

